Church of Scientology case under review by the Brussels Council Chamber

Thursday, January 9, 2014

On Thursday, the Brussels Council Chamber began hearing arguments concerning a possible criminal trial of the Scientology movement and a dozen of its members, now 17 years after the first judicial inquiry into this matter began. The federal prosecutor's office wants to prosecute Scientology as a criminal organization and to accuse the suspects of fraud, illegal practice of medicine, violation of privacy laws, and extortion.

The first investigation into the Church of Scientology began in 1997 when several former members filed complaints. Ten years later, the prosecutor's office recommended that twelve persons and two companies, the Belgian branch of the Church of Scientology and the European Office of the Church of Scientology International, be tried in criminal court.

Before this case reached the Council Chamber, a second investigation was launched after a complaint was filed by the Brussels Regional Employment Office (Actiris). The Church of Scientology was suspected of advertising counterfeit job offers. Persons who answered the ads were not awarded a job, but instead found themselves in a kind of volunteer status.

A few months ago, the federal prosecutor's office decided to merge the two investigations. The Council Chamber must now choose which persons and entities would stand trial in criminal court.

The Scientology movement was founded in 1954 by American science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, and it claims 12 million members in 8,000 churches and 165 countries.

According to the federal prosecutor's office and attorneys, the Council Chamber's proceedings will span about four weeks.

This case has been hanging around for 17 years?! I know from previous reports that the Belgian courts are glacial, but had no idea that the Belgian courts are inoperative! Is there a Scientology presence in Belgium anymore? If there is a Scientology presence in Belgium, does anyone actually care about these cases?

anondelmundial wrote:This case has been hanging around for 17 years?! I know from previous reports that the Belgian courts are glacial, but had no idea that the Belgian courts are inoperative! Is there a Scientology presence in Belgium anymore? If there is a Scientology presence in Belgium, does anyone actually care about these cases?

EDIT: The cases have the peculiarity that all the paperwork was taken from the bOrgs in raids (a long time ago) and as such we suspect that lots and lots of evidence of lawbreaking is in there - somewhere. What happened to the statute of limitations is a different matter. I, for one, would have like to see slightly swifter justice in this case.

anondelmundial wrote:This case has been hanging around for 17 years?! I know from previous reports that the Belgian courts are glacial, but had no idea that the Belgian courts are inoperative! Is there a Scientology presence in Belgium anymore? If there is a Scientology presence in Belgium, does anyone actually care about these cases?

EDIT: The cases have the peculiarity that all the paperwork was taken from the bOrgs in raids (a long time ago) and as such we suspect that lots and lots of evidence of lawbreaking is in there - somewhere. What happened to the statute of limitations is a different matter. I, for one, would have like to see slightly swifter justice in this case.

I have read, and re-read your post and finally fell onto the floor laughing!!!

I, for one, would have like to see slightly swifter justice in this case.

A justice rate (whatever that is) of zero multiplied by some number remains zero. I think we agree. Seventeen years is high comedy.

Our man in Paris, Jonny Jacobsen, has a report for us on how things are going in Belgium, where federal prosecutors will soon be making an important decision about Scientology in that country. Take it away, Jonny…

A Belgian court has begun considering whether two criminal investigations against Scientology, one dating back as far as 1997, should go to trial — and if so, who should be in the dock.

Brussels Council Chamber hearings on Church of Scientology nearing conclusion

by Philippe Carlot
Thursday, February 13, 2014

The Brussels Council Chamber is expected to conclude its hearings today into two cases involving the Church of Scientology of Belgium. A dozen of the cult's officials and members and two associations are facing the possibility of a trial in criminal court. Scientology is under suspicion as a criminal organization.

The first case dates back to 1996. It prompted a wide investigation into the conduct of Scientology's activities in Belgium and could result in the conviction of the Church of Scientology of Belgium as a criminal organization. Charges include the illegal practice of medicine and pharmacy, fraud, extortion, and violations of the laws concerning trade practices and the protection of privacy. The accusations are aimed at a dozen individuals and two legal entities.

The second case began in April 2008 after a complaint was filed by the Actiris, the Brussels Regional Employment Office. The Church of Scientology is suspected of advertising counterfeit job offers that were actually intended to recruit new followers.

The investigation was long and difficult, but legal proceedings have proven to be no less fraught with pitfalls. The cult's lawyers have filed countless motions for postponement and further investigation and employed every conceivable and imaginable recourse. They are expected to invoke the statute of limitations, failure to deliver justice within a reasonable time, and problems related to the use of languages.

If today's hearing does turn out to be the last, the Council Chamber will hand down its decision within a month.

The Brussels Council Chamber has postponed until March 27, 2014 its decision on whether the Church of Scientology and a dozen of its members will be tried in criminal court in Belgium. The decision was originally expected on March 13.

The Brussels Council Chamber has decided that two associations with ties to the Scientology movement and ten of their members are to stand trial in criminal court.

The federal prosecutor's office is calling the Church of Scientology a criminal organization and is charging the defendants with fraud, illegal practice of medicine, and non-compliance with privacy protection laws. The very first investigation concerning the Church of Scientology began in 1997 after several former members filed complaints. Ten years later, the prosecutor's office ordered a criminal trial for twelve persons and two associations, the Belgian branch of the Church of Scientology and the European Office of the Church of Scientology International.

Before the Council Chamber could give decide whether this case should proceed to trial, a second investigation was initiated following a complaint by the Brussels Regional Employment Office (Actiris). The Church of Scientology was suspected of advertising counterfeit job offers. The persons who answered the offers did not obtain a job, but instead were hired under a type of volunteer status.

A few months ago, the federal prosecutor's office decided to merge the two cases. The Council Chamber ruled that the statute of limitations has run out for the charges against one of the defendants and that a second suspect should be transferred because his language is English. The ten other members and the two associations will be put on trial, but they may appeal this decision.

The Scientology movement was founded in 1954 by American science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard and claims 12 million members and 8,000 churches in 165 countries.